Master of Science in Urban Design

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.248.9.226/handle/123/77

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 28

item: Thesis-Full-text
A Perception of architects' & urban designers' on impact of outdoor advertisement on visual pollution; an evidence from Nugegoda, Sri lanka.
(2022) Dedo BAS; Dharmasena J
Today, Sri Lanka is moving towards developments of high urbanization this also leads to highly commercialized streetscape. In further Nugegoda, Sri Lanka is one of the envisioned Major Urban Centre within the Colombo Metropolitan Area for 2035. The rapid haphazard commercial development also leads to question the impact of Outdoor Advertisements on Visual Pollution within this context. However, Architects and Urban Designers are the professionals who define the streetscape and the image of the city. Therefore, this study focused on finding the impact of Outdoor Advertisements on Visual Pollution from the perceptions of Architects’ and Urban Designers’. The study area divided in to 44 surveyed points and photo-based web survey conducted to check the perception of the convenience population sample of 100 numbers of a mixture of Architects and Urban Designers on; appearance of the street (as), number of Outdoor Advertisements in the street (na) and appearance of the Outdoor Advertisements in the street (aa) based on these independent variables the dependent variable of Surveyed Visual Pollution Score constructed with Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS 26). The Surveyed Visual Pollution Score measured for each 44 points and Surveyed Visual Pollution Map was produced using ArcGIS Geostatistical Analyst to make kernel interpolation. The study findings show that; the area near the main node of the study area becomes the highest visually polluted area and pollution are decreasing with the distance away from the main node. Additionally, the Surveyed Visual Pollution Map shows that there is positive relationship with Surveyed Visual Pollution Score and the hierarchy of the roads. A higher number of 38 out of 100 respondents strongly agree to place OAs in the Streetscape. A higher percentage of 46.7% respondents perceive OAs as means of Visual Pollution. The second highest percentage of 24.1% respondents perceive OAs effects the Image of the City. A higher percentage of 34.9% respondents prefers to have virtual and social media advertising rather OAs. The highest number of respondents (30 out of 100 respondents recommended) recommended to premise the area ratio of OAs to building façade of 1/8 : 1. Moreover, another 25 out of 100 respondents recommended to premise the area ratio of OAs to building façade of 1/16 : 1.
item: Thesis-Full-text
The Changing place sensibility of an arterial neighbourhood: case study - Duplication road, Bambalapitiya
(2022) Fonseka MM; Dharmasena J
The creation of a secondary arterial connection parallel to but less significant than Galle Road, in the late seventies cut through the Colombo suburbs of Kollupitiya and Bambalapitiya, breaking neighbourhood connections and dividing families. Unlike Galle Road, this second artery had no associated spaces or services that could help build its urban character or its edge condition, it cut through the urban fabric without regard for what was on either side. Even its name suggested its duplication of function rather than amenity. Another road running parallel – Marine drive was introduced subsequently along the coast also to take the load of the traffic in Galle Road. This dissertation proposes to study how a second sub-arterial road, Duplication Road, introduced in the early 1970’s has impacted the forms of neighbourhood character sustained by the urban relationships that were formative for Bampalapitiya’s Place-Sensibility.
item: Thesis-Full-text
Analytical study of branded "Tourist city" and its effect on social, local, environmental quality and realm of the citizen
(2022) Bandara KPSJ; Dharmasena J
The city is a major economic factor in any country or society. When there is a break in this interconnection between the growth of a city and its economics, the function of a city changes and turns into a domestic low-level dwelling city or at times termed as abandoned. After the industrial revolution with better health and a growing economy, growth in human townships evolved rapidly in relation to that of the ancient city. With the growth of these townships the growing demand and attraction towards city life, progressively increased over time to date. This demand for growth increased the need for the city to generate more wealth for the growth and development of the city. This phenomenon automatically created competition amongst all cities throughout the world. Same way wealth was a factor of power and protection for its inhabitants. In some ways for a city to survive, it needs to brand itself, otherwise, the city will struggle to succeed with the competition of the neighboring cities, the region, or the national level with the economy. But city branding for its better future can happen in less time than the time it needs for a city to evolve In the days gone by many people who had heard of a place or cities, conjectured them virtually imagining of other part of cities. This concept radically changed after early to late seventies with the vibrant development of transportation and media. With the development of televisions and film industry, it became a major turning point for obtaining knowledge and exploring a city. After the invention of personal computers, exploring of other part of the cities around the world became much more accessible with digital media. The early nineties with invent of the internet made a massive change in connection peoples around the world. By this time the concept of Globalization, a Global village was aggressively explored, and the branding own cities became an inherent platform to attract more wealth to the cities. The remarkable change in city branding evolved with smartphones and every visitor to the city sharing images of interesting places with each other. This is evolving further with the introduction of digital social media, giving rise to “influencers”, who write extensively of their experiences in various cities and places of interest, thus iii encouraging more and more people to visit. The branding profession expanded beyond imaginable limits with the new era of communication. With all the branding of a city, the tourism industry became a major component of the city economy. Architecture, Archeology, food, fashion, urban experience, Natural beauty were some key elements to brand in a city as tourist destinations. This tourism branding idea was developed with the modern communication platform such as television, via the internet, and the latest methods such as social media mainly with smartphones. This branding technique is becoming a fast method to attract tourists. Due to fast branding, other supportive facilities in the city also need to expand at the same speed. This gives quick transforming of the urban economy for a better way and the realm citizens are also changing due to these factors. The realm of the wealth of citizens achieves in a short period of time. But it meets only one or few realm urbanites. The branding can bring negative aspects as well. This study focuses on research and analyzing how the realm of people are affected by City branding.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Critical analysis of the relationship between crime, safety and the physical environment in new low-income, high-rise housing in Colombo
(2022) Sumanadasa KHM; Dharmasena J
In Sri Lanka after year 2000, Many Low-income, high- Rise housing developments have being built to reclaim some of the scenic places in the city and to satisfy the housing demand for the growing Urban population. These houses are mainly concentrated in the north and east of Colombo metropolitan area. Due to the high concentration of low-income houses in these areas, and poor maintenance etc., these LIHRHs have developed a stigma. Most number of Crime Incidents of the city are also reported from these areas. Due to these Many residents who can afford it, move out of these newly built LIHRH worsening the situation due to these vacant premises been rented by gang leaders and drug lords. In the past Internationally, due to such problems, many such housing developments were demolished. Extensive research work and theories were also developed in other countries as to how to avoid such crime breeding grounds in housing developments. Of these defensible space by Oscar Newman is the most accepted and widely adopted in controlling crime via environmental design. He discusses how this can be achieved under four main categories. First is via increasing territorial control by residents over their premises, second by increasing the natural surveillance of residents over their premises, third by improving the image of the housing development and thereby attracting users of higher income categories to the area and fourth how the proximity to safe places can increase the safety of the LIHRH. Jane Jacobs and some others theoreticians have also talked about different aspects that contribute towards reducing crime in housing schemes such as the presence of children playing in sidewalks and shops that keep natural surveillance over the streets in a neighborhood. As a measuring tool for Crime occurrences and safety levels in selected case studies four main headings of Territoriality, Natural Surveillance, Image and proximity to safe and non-safe places were adopted. Under these other 29 subcategories were utilized to measure crime and safety levels in the case studies. Using these, Objectives of the study are to see whether there is a relationship between built form and crime in Sri Lankan context and if there is to see what can be done to the built form and the environment to reduce the crime rates and increase the safety in LIHRH. iii Selected three case studies are Muwaduru Uyana, Sirimuth Uyana and Randiya Uyana. Ninety residents from the 3 case studies answered a questionnaire and drew mind maps of safe and unsafe areas of their LIHRH in the given maps. There were interviews of residents, UDA officials and police personnel and photographic survey was also conducted see how the three case studies fared in terms of the four developed main categories for crime and safety. In addition to these, a cartographic analysis was also carried out about the nature of built form. Crime data relating to the three case studies were obtained from the relevant police stations. Police data indicated that Muwaduru Uyana was highest in crime second is Randiya Uyana and Sirimuthu Uyana had a smaller number of crimes. Sirimuthu Uyana was considered as the safest by residents. Survey observations also supported this data. Therefore, it was concluded that a. When the territoriality, Natural surveillance of the residents increases over their premises and image of the improves and LIHRH is located in proximity to safe areas crime decreases –Inversely Proportional relationship b. When the territoriality, Natural surveillance of the residents increases over their premises and image of the improves and LIHRH is located in proximity to safe areas Safety Increases –Proportional Relationship Based on survey findings, possible improvements to the built form and surroundings of the three existing case studies and future recommendations to adopt in LIHRH were proposed under the four main categories of Territoriality, Natural Surveillance , Image and proximity to safe and non-safe areas. Under these 4 categories, 33 recommendations were proposed.
item: Thesis-Full-text
Impact on public realm by urban intensification of privately owned public buildings
(2022) Cooray BDN; Dharmasena J
The public Realm is a place where anyone can access, interact physically despite of their economic social circumstances, it is the location where individuals interact physically. As a result, pedestrian walkways, parks, streets, squares, as well as signage and street furniture, are all included in the context. Privately Owned Public Buildings, spaces dedicated to public use enjoyment and which are owned and maintained by private property owners. Urban Intensification, Development that allows for more people to connect with in the existing urban area. The study will analyze the impact on public realm by urban intensification of privately owned public building. whether the privately owned public building has a positive or a negative impact for the urban user and its vicinity.
item: Thesis-Full-text
Waterfront developments and their effect on urban sense of place :
(2022) Rajakaruna AU; Dharmasena J
Waterbodies have arguably been more than simply a valuable resource for Sri Lanka and its inhabitants; they are also a significant aspect of the country's culture. A majority of the waterbodies are connected to cities or flow directly through them, and they have an impact on these cityscapes by influencing the quality of their views. With the passage of time and the extent of their development, waterfronts are frequently altered, resulting in an indirect impact on the place's identity. Many of these waterfronts have poor water quality and have not been properly integrated in terms of their recreational value and historical significance. Between individuals and places, emotional and functional factors generate meaning, resulting in a sense of place. Physical changes may transform the meaning of an area and erode this area's sense of place over time. This study aims to evaluate the affects sense-of-place and its components have on a user's perception in the setting of open spaces of Negombo's waterfronts. The goals of this study are to find physical markers, indications of functional connection, and measures of emotional attachment in order to see if deteriorating waterfronts have a detrimental impact on the public's perception of sense-of-place in Negombo. The study's findings reveal a number of aspects that impact and alter the waterfronts' functional and emotional relationships. More data demonstrates that the environment's physical qualities can improve both place identification and user pleasure. How to enhance and build linkages between persons and their environments is a fundamental concern for designers, planners and politicians. This research adds to our understanding of the human interaction with location and has crucial implications on the decision-making of urban designers, planners and administrations who want to transform their environments into better and more organised spaces.
item: Thesis-Full-text
Impact of uniform commercial development on a street and its effect on the street character
(2022) Medagama RMDB; Dharmasena J
The quality of most Commercial Streets in cities are negatively affected by the lack of open areas and urban spaces. The streets and its activities when unplanned, are an unpleasant built space to urbanity. This impacts the maintenance of a good built environment and a quality urban life. Therefore, a well-functioning, pleasant urban landscape which maintains the disciplines required of a commercial development is important. This study investigated how to assess the impact of uniform commercial development on the urban streetscape and the effect of physical street characters. The study explored street characters generated by uniform commercial activities in selected urban streets. Usage qualities, spatial qualities of existing Commercial Streets were tested in this study, using three case studies similar in scale, but differing in location and physical characteristic in the Colombo district. Quantitative and qualitative characters were considered for this study, while data collection was done via self-study, questionnaires and interviews. Each Street has its own unique characters due to its physical qualities. By evaluating these physical Street characters and its activities, it is possible to identify what is the most uniform character. Street qualities of attractiveness, permeability, visibility, legibility, human scale and safety, which utilize street elements of furniture, lamps, sidewalks, etc.; further help to produce a distinct quality. These components facilitates social interactions, creates a comfortable atmosphere and highlights the character of the street. This ultimately affects the atmosphere of the town, which are identified by characteristics such as activeness/dead, plan/unplanned, cosiness and uniqueness. The street characters which are generated from uniform commercial development has a stronger character than a general commercial street
item: Thesis-Full-text
Comparative study between convivial and conventional urban design approaches with special reference to socio - spatial experience of Tamil cultural cities in Sri Lanka
(2021) Yogalingam, A; Wijesundara, J
This study focuses on the necessity of socio-spatial experiences of people, which has been gained from the parks as a public space that are subject to urban design approaches. Besides, analysis of geographical, physical and administrative dimensions of the place, which are related to design and planning processes, it reveals the necessity of including the psychological effects of the place on people via their senses. In other words, the information is gathered through my experiences to design the process. By this way, attempts are made to explain the content of the relationship between daily experiences of people and spatial formation of a park, celebrative events and public life and public place. Thus, the study focuses on the Convivial Urban Design approach which brings about the emotions and psychology of people in the way of celebrating events laterally especially by these kinds of urban designs. In this perspective, the author examines parks that are situated in the center of Batticaloa and Jaffna Town (Tamil cultural cities) whereas Tamil community people are predominantly living in Sri Lanka when compared with other districts which is recorded as 99% in the Jaffna district and 79% in the Batticaloa district in 2019 according to census and statistical data. The parks, which have a vital position within the city center, have well-maintained its prominence as existence, one of the parks activities that is pleasing to the people parks of numerous portions of city, age and gender from past to present. The activities of parks are analysed in terms of friendliness under five different criteria via a questionnaire and the results of this study are inspected clearly. The results give conclusions about friendliness of a place in terms of celebrating events and involving in activities in these parks, which can be adopted throughout the design process. The results of this dissertation reveal the indicators that can be used as inputs for design lively urban recreational space and celebrative space and reveals why the Batticaloa Gandhi Park and the Jaffna Beach Park still have some appearances that cause an intensive use. Criteria and conclusions reveal with this study, to show that there are more than conventional urban design approaches in space design.
item: Thesis-Full-text
Urban design implications for facilitating effective use of urban nature for user relaxation: case of small urban parks in Batticaloa
(2021) Ragavan, P; Wijesundara, J
The urban nature setting is a significant contributor to the wellbeing in the urbanization places, and it ought to be combined with the public realm. The town, for an example, Batticaloa consists of a public boom on the way of concentrating on the development in the urban areas as they become high denser. The bigger density decreases in the environmental place; however, it gives a chance to design the common places and effective places that provided their people with some contacts through natural environment. That theory gives appearance to the potentials of nature in the towns, especially relaxation potentials of nature in an urbanized location. An identifying and growing the public assessment of the environment, this theory object to correcting the confirmed ways, in which nature could be depicted because that is the city to be harnessed, for the benefits of the human relaxation, wellbeing of the recommended method, in which environmental structures could be included into the urban design facilitation. The literature review behind the effects on the natural environment of human comfort and health effects of the public space, it is designed to combine the three focusing natures with sensory potentials, case study areas of the natural small public parks located in Batticaloa for the purpose of concluding recommendations of this dissertation. For example, it is expected that how these recommendations might be implemented and published in this situation existing in the Batticaloa Municipal Council area, in the neighbourhoods’ character of Kallady, Mugathuvaram and Dutch Bar, that increases density. The lessons have been discussed and planned to be transferred to the other urban areas that have become known areas of density to mix environment with the civic realm as these areas remain to be improved. This dissertation aims at pertaining to the foundation for thinking more censoriously and about the relationship related to the human nature in an urban area and how the common designing space could be used in a method of improving the relaxation and wellbeing of the people of the city surroundings
item: Thesis-Full-text
Assessing visual impacts of roadscape installations on urban safety and comfort in Galle Road, Colombo
(2020) Wijekoon, N; Wijesundara, J
Today, the world is moving towards Urbanization which adapts sustainable development. Currently in Sri Lanka, the challenging development position in terms of its urban development with the introduction of number of mega projects ranging from urban core intensification to introducing and improving infrastructure and alternative multimode transportation systems. With technology and other high intelligence base development are now making space for poor safe and secured cities resulting all types of pollutions such as air, water, soil, sound and visual which risking the inhabitants and exposing into the general public. Though various urban development programs are being implemented in high dense urban areas of the country, how far such initiatives were able to create a positive impact to minimize visual issues in the city has not been clearly identified and clarified. Accordingly, views on redefining the urban environment in terms of visual atmosphere in order to prevent and control visual impacts of roadscape installations is a critical task facing today with rapidly increasing needs of commercialization. As the magnitude of its influences on urban users have not been identified, measured and analysed analytically, the results is increasing roadscape psychological and physical damages which runs as a long term process. The proposed study is intended as an assortment of properly designed specific research constituents. In order to begin the study, it is expected to conduct first-hand observations and identify the key problematic situations in urban commercial roadways and roadsides in Colombo in terms of urban comfort and safety due to roadscape installations. A comprehensive literature survey will be carried out for in-depth studies of precise constituents of the research. Prior to the detail analysis, it is planned to conduct a pilot surveys to identify key factors to be measured with regards to the specific stockholders and area analysis through questionnaires, direct/indirect interviews etc. with random local and foreign city users. After that it is decided to conduct details field surveys, laboratory experiments on existing conditions using focus variables to understand the stockholder acceptance. Compiling the research findings giving high regards to user satisfaction and document accordingly. In order to improve visual comfort and ensure user safety through visual impacts in roadways and roadsides due to roadscape installations, it is aimed to identify roadscape installations and its impact rating, to review build, designed and situational factors of identified installations, determine the correlation between roadway and roadside installations and safety, comfort and to investigate the effects of identified installations on pedestrian and driver attention and performance. As a result, this study will worth to design a method to assess visual impact due to roadscape installations in commercial activities based roads and to identify the visual influences and its magnitude on roadway and roadside users which opens a gateway to establish an assessment model in order to assess urban comfort, safety and security of public realm for sustainable urbanisation in Sri Lanka.
item: Thesis-Full-text
Reassessing the practices of green urbanism in order to generate a sustainable urban renewal in wellawatte town
Goonetilleke, JWA; Wijesundara, A
Under the broad umbrella of‘Sustainable Development’, many have discussed and in some instances implemented many means in which human behaviour is changed in order to reduce their impact on the environment, promote economic development as well as enhance social welfare. This dissertation intends to study sustainability in all its angles, exploring economic, environmental and social sustainability and the concepts of Green Urbanism principals to formulate a list of guidelines for sustainable green urban development. The research focuses on Sustainable Green Development, which transforms into an Urban Renewal in an already existing scenario. The chosen Case Study ofthe city of Wellawatte is studied and in turn its elements are manipulated to assess its potential to be sustainable, whilst maintaining its character and importance in the least intrusive manner. The principles of Green Urbanism are juxtaposed and over-laid on the research finding of the case study, presenting research ideology that can be used in future Urban Development. The case study highlights a city’s potential to be a sustainable green city, which will eventually aid in any research and development to be done along the concept of Sustainable Retrofitting in urban environments.
item: Thesis-Full-text
An Examination of the relationship between outdoor activities and physical quality of street spaces
Arachchige, NLB; Fernando, H
The knowledge inputs by the professionals in the field of urban design, is pleased by the emerging awareness of making vibrant urban spaces which is somewhat beyond the current practice of just providing basic infrastructure or establishing physical assets which is more common in road infrastructure developments in Sri Lankan context. Thus, the time is good for a change to move away from the current approaches and practices to convert our roads to streets and look in to them as a vital part of public realm. For such an initiation, it would be very much useful to have a thorough understanding about our streets and human activities occurring there. Therefore, this study has been focused on examining possible relationships exist between the occurrence of street activities and the physical quality ofstreets in Sri Lankan urban context. Jan Gehl’s explanation of three categories of outdoor activities has been taken as the underlining theoretical basis to conduct this study whereas the main street of Ambalangoda has been selected as a case study. Accordingly, based on the magnitude of accruing optional and social activities particularly, it has been attempted to identify special features and attributes associated with built environment as responsive to such activities. The research findings have been analyzed using graphical analysis tools and ultimately this study derives some key points which may support in street design endeavours looking forward of creating more responsive physical environments which better suit with Sri Lankan urban context. This study reveals that, street activities are noticeably responsive to the quality of physical environment. The detail analyses done on the built environment reveals about some of key features in the physical environment where social activities are particularly attracted to those spaces being vital parts of the urban public realm.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Adaptive reuse : underrstanding effectiveness fo adaptive reuse as a tool for urban regeneration
Jayawardana RM; Wijesundara J
The practice of architectural and urban design being involved in forming the space in our cities and built environments has certain effects on the social life in society that in its turn conditions the performance of the practice. The continuous changes in cities and societies, however, are just partially caused by the practice of architectural and urban design. In a fluid context of social and spatial transformations, the control and manipulation of the effects of the practice become yet more complicated entailing a deeper understanding of the nature of urban transformations and the dialectic between urban life and its spatial frames in cities. The objective of this thesis is to improve this understanding. The thesis deals with discourses in the fields of theory of architecture, architectural and urban design practice and sociology. It examines the concepts of society, space and culture and discuses the content and historical context of predominant urban design ideas and concepts in different periods. All of these factors must then be integrated with new construction in order to continue the narrative of the building. “The building already has a story; all you have to do is add the interesting next chapter." Throughout this paper, discussions will take place on how exactly we add this next chapter. The study will be made to look at the theories in conservation as a tool in which to establish coherence and unity in the presentation of an adaptive reuse project. Through the use of evolution, scarring, layering, and display, principles will emerge as a way in which to embrace storytelling as a process to communicate what once belonged to the past and explain what has emerged as part of the present function. This article focuses on the protection and development of old buildings cultural characteristics oriented to the concept of recycle culture, so as to provide a theoretical reference for a sustainable urban culture.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Urban design methodologies as a tool to improve the prevailing planning regulatiom to enhance urban character in Sri Lankan context
Nawaratne, RLP; Dharmasena, J
This dissertation intends to examine the existing planning regulations and to find solutions through urban design to enhance urban character in Sri Lankan context. It can be addressed to rapid development and increased pressure for growth, through the proper urban development without disturbing the urban character ofthe area as well as the financial capability to maintain it. Under the Dutch and the British rule, they were considered natural features such as beach, lagoon, elevation of the area, lakes and canals systematically. as opportunities and design their towns Due to the rapid urbanization, some buildings were constructed with little or no consideration for air space, lighting, ventilation, drainage and access to cleaning. Because of that, haphazard growth took place and some well planned areas ofthe cities became slums. Therefore, British people have been introduced Housing and Town Improvement (H&TI) Ordinance No. 19 of 1915 to assure the health condition ofthe people who were living in the main city centers. To overcome the issues created in the H&TI Ordinance, Town and Country Planning Ordinance was introduced in 1946. It’s 1st task to plan Colombo city along with its region and it was practiced until introduced Urban Development Authority (UDA) Law no. 41 of 1978. Since that all the UDA declared areas practiced UDA rules and regulations and rest ofthe areas covered by the above mentioned laws. In addition to the above mentioned Laws, the Urban Council Ordinance and the Municipal Council Ordinance are also implementing in the particular areas. All the above mentioned Laws have included the rules and regulations ofthe town planning to maintenance, preservation and improvement of the urban character. The following two regulations which can be used to enhance the urban character through development control and promotion.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Urban revitalization : waterfront development as an urban revitalization tool for Colombo waterfront redevelopment plan
Samadhi, GKS; Wijesundara, J
In recent history we have witnessed the "Development" of technology and subsequent degradation of our communities. While technology claims to connect and bring people together through ideas like the World Wide Web, this type of connection and technology in turn discourages local community values. The loss social interaction and recreation within our own homes, towns and cityscapes deteriorates our communities. Most great cities have developed along water front, which either thread through them as river and canals or front on them as bays and oceans; they are the greatest resource for enjoyment and open space available to city dwellers. The Great water front communities and landscapes are of the most obvious examples of the effects technology has had on the integrity of our communities. These towns were once centered both socially and economically on their land, their identity and culture was defined by it. As technology shifted to the highways the communities began to lose their connection to the environment and each other. As designers, more specifically Urban Designers, we have the ability and knowledge to discourage the effects our shifting technology has and provide for or improve the quality of life for a community. This study attempts to identify and utilize a community's needs, both social and economic, and their local history to reconnect and revitalize the physical environment, as well as, the social culture and identity. Urban waterfront redevelopment is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Replenished housing stock might be an improvement in quality; it may increase density and reduce sprawl; it might have economic benefits and improve the global economic competitiveness of a city's centre. It may, in some instances, improve cultural and social amenity, and it may also improve opportunities for safety and surveillance. Developments such as London Docklands increased tax revenues for government. The process has had a major impact on many urban landscapes, and has played an important role in the history and demographics of cities around the world. The City will encourage the location of modem facilities in the waterfront area when appropriate and where sufficient land is available: In planning for the redevelopment of this Core Area, the Master Plan has recognized the relationship between the Waterfront and the City Centre. The expansion of the City Centre to the edge of the water can provide a bold new dimension to the vitality of its commercial core and the livability of its strengthened neighborhoods. The Master Plan will act as a management Page | i tool for the implementation of goals and for the physical development of the surroundings of the Lake. Develop the guidelines and recommendations for the Beira Lake Master Plan is very important. The focus of this work has been to balance the demand for the many uses competing for waterfront land. These uses include boating facilities, utilities, recreation, housing, offices, retailing and transportation. It is believed that this balance can be achieved, but as decisions regarding waterfront land use have long term implications, these decisions must be carefully weighed and fully considered.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Review of the urban acupuncture approach and its applicability to designing Sri Lankan cities
Prabakaran, P; Chandrasekara, DP
This research focuses on the applicability of the urban acupuncture approach in Sri Lankan Cities. Urban Acupuncture approach is generative method targeted to achieve the “wholeness” ofthe city but through informal design product. Every city has several systems individually and collectively. Before going to a design or planning solution the systems should be studied carefully and find the nodes and meridians where we have to treat. Colombo city was selected as the case study and Panchikawatta node has been selected as the nodal point on the basis of the existing context within the city and included one of the regeneration sites by the Urban Development Authority. There are two levels of context of the site studied and proposals were made on those two levels. In the regional level, major objective ofthe project was to bring the Panchikawatta node in to the system then only we can give a solution to local level. Considering all the major physical elements of the city, a transportation loop has been proposed to connect the site with other areas in pedestrian, cyclists and vehicles modes. In next while having well connectivity with immediate region how the node should be treated? The derived steps from the precedent studies which are Outset, Vision, Tool (acupuncture) and Transformation applied in each steps of the preparation of the Urban Design brieffor Panchikawatta triangle. In the end a methodology and 7 recommended rules were developed for apply the Urban Acupuncture approach in Sri Lankan cities successfully.
item: Thesis-Abstract
An Evaluation of the applicability of compact city strategies in Sri Lankan Urban Form
Ranaweera S; Wijesundara J
The study on “An Evaluation ofthe Applicability of Compact City Strategies in Sri Lankan Urban Form” examines the key issues related to urban form of Sri Lankan cities and evaluates the applicability of strategies adapted for compact city development by the Western Countries in addressing the issues related to barriers in optimization of scarce land resources with cost effective infrastructure usage and meeting the challenges of exorbitant land prices prevailing in urban areas as against the present practice of enforcing standards and regulations in such areas. Urbanization and urban development is a continuous process throughout the World which is occurring in an ad hoc manner and in haphazard way if the process could not be regularized through planning which is the existing issues characterized by the urban centres of Sri Lanka, thereby mostly cities are experiencing sprawling along major transport corridors in an uncontrollable manner which does not make any sense on sustainable development, strong urban- rural linkages or economic development to the region so that the growth associated with commonly visible problems where none of the urban centers provides or act as engines of growth for their peripheral areas. This pattern of growth and inefficient use of urban space lead to a multitude of problems which in turn affects to the wellbeing ofthe city dwellers as well as commuters to the city daily. The projections and forecasts show that the urbanization and related issues will become a severe threat in the quality of life in the future of Sri Lankan cities unless otherwise the situation becomes unmanageable to the city administrators and the city planners together with city designers and architects as the cities make unsustainable in future. Compact City Strategy is a basic model which involves with sustainable urban design. European Commission introduced the “Compact City” concept as the archetypal sustainable urban form for European cities by publishing the “Green paper on the urban environment” in 1990. The basic idea of this model is to have high density, mixed use development with high quality public realm. This approach to urban planning and design is well established among proponents of the New iv Urbanism, Transit Oriented Development (TOD) and Smart Growth movement too. Compactness is a way to save limited resources such as land, other natural resources, and time, attracting people to enjoy with facilities developed in relation to interchanges developed in expressways and highways as well as many valuable aspects in urban areas. Compact City is a collection of coherent compact urban districts and a compact form. Increasing densities requires improving the quality of urban areas to attract people to live and work and its long term sustenance of its existence. This study examines how to incorporate the basic concepts and strategies of Compact City Model in Sri Lankan urban form and discuss how it could be used and what limitations exists in urban design point of view. The applicability of model, methods and strategies in problem solving of the urban areas and the results anticipated in adapting ofsuch a model will be analyzed by a case study conducted in Bandarawela Urban Council area. The research methods ofthe case study evolve mainly through an interview with a selected sample of knowledgeable people ofthe locality who have the ground based knowledge of the area, in depth interview method with the professional practitioners like planners, architects and designers who have engaged in planning and developments of urban areas and direct observations through field visits by the researcher.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Impacts of colour perception in Kandy with special references to Dalada Veediya and D.S. Senanayaka Veediya
Senaviratna WMJS; Wijesundara J
Colour plays a significant role in elements in the built fabric, where by it can enable a symbolic relationship between the people who comes in contact with the spaces. Thus colour can stimulate the minds of the people. Hence the effects on the perception of colour are interesting phenomena on the perception ofspatial quality and human response to it, by those who come in contact with the spaces. Nevertheless colour in built fabric can be a unifying thread in urban design where it can resemble the historic features, with a sense oftime, and the evolution ofthe urban forms and street scopes depicting the life style and the activity pattern ofthe people in relationship to the townscapes in cities. A holistic perception of colour can be the determinant factor in the street facades and the deep rooted socio cultural aspects in the evolution of cities. In modern planning of cities it is important to respond to the effects of colour in the design development guidelines and regularizing the planning trends where by the evolution of new building and structures can be done in an orderly passion in harmony with the historicism embedded in the built fabric. This dissertation indents to cany out an in-depth study, of the impacts of the perception of Colour in the city of Kandy, which is geographically located in a plateau surrounded by lush green mountain ridges, in the central hill of Sri Lanka. Where it was the bastion of the last reins, of the Sinhalese Kings, where it is a naturally fortified city which was a necessity to protect from the foreign invasions. Afterwards the city was under colonial rule. The city contains a deep rooted tradition, with the relationship ofthe users. The time period is reflected by the, symbolic relationship between the people and the urban spaces in the city, and the built fabric. The use of different colour shades, with its materials and textures resembling the identity of the subcultures in the region. The intensity of the colour used with the materials and elements stands out amongst the backdrop of the lush green mountain ridges and sky forming a horizon amongst the built fabric. The usage ofNatural, Cool and Warm colours in different blends in the Kandiyan region with varying intensities resembles the deep-rooted tradition and culture creating a sense of place and a scene ofidentity. The inappropriate usage of colour can create a dilemma of style and threaten to dilute the meaning and identity of the place and thus the importance of the appropriate colours in relations to the inferences of the case studies are then dealt upon. Thereby the appropriate usage of colour and thus augur in creating meaningful and aesthetically pleasing urban forms with the built fabric which inevitably will be a catalyzer in creating a sensory perception in cities with a sense of place with a unique identity.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Analytical study on the built and spatial transformation in shrinking cities and setting out an urban design strategies for revitalization of Matale City
Wickramanayake UACJ; Wijesundara J
Shrinking is not a new occurrence. It has been documented in a large literature analyzing and economic issues that have led to population decline, the social resulting, in the worse cases, in the eventual abandonment of blocks of housing and neighborhoods. Analysis of shrinkage should take into consideration in built and spatial form for understanding that this phenomenon is now global and multidimensional — but also little understood in all its manifestation. Thus, as the world’s population increasingly becomes an urban, accepted view of urban decline need re-dentition. This decline situation instantly express on built structures and later in spatially too. It was previously well known term to only western world and now it’s also popular word among the eastern countries as well. After decades of urban growth, modem societies now face an increasing number of shrinking cities with undergoing massive physical transformations. Since, the impacts on the inhabitants in shrinking cities are numerous. Mostly negative effects dominate in the public discourse and visually witnessing the outcome ofthe effects built and spatial fomi too. But urban growth and urban decline have been synonym of achievement throughout the world and even considered the proper and solitary for urban designing. It has become more visible, since unquestionable facts started to challenge conservative and established urban design paradigms. Consequently, the shrinkage or urban decline is considered as an urban design tool to measure the intensity of decline or growth of cities. Nevertheless, not only in European or American cities, but also in Asian cities in, China, India, and Japan, has number ofshirking cities at recent days. on The study was mainly focused to understand the Urban decline in Srilankan context, selecting Matale City as a case. This study results show how the city structures transform under declining process in Srilanka and the resulted negative effects, outcomes and the underlying causes. Later, analysis direct to establish a conclusion and which will be utilizing to set out urban design strategies for Revitalization of Matale city.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Character study on the context responsive design strategies of hill towns with special reference to town of Haputale Sri Lanka
Sugirthan K; Fernando H; Wijesundara J
Hill country towns of Sri Lanka have unique character on the nature of landscape, pattern of development, urban form and its shape. Due to the nature of hilly landscape; Net buildable or for urban growth and functions limited. Form and character of a hilly country is highly influenced or shaped by the landscape. It is usable area are vital for Sri Lankan hill towns that the natural landscape is the strongest standing force preserve and expresses their uniqueness. Most ofthe urban design principles and approaches deals with the urban context based on 2D plane built vertically into a 3D space. But hill towns are formed in 3D landscape. There is a need to study the form, function, and character of hill towns and their relationship within the force of undulated landscape. It raises the question that how such environment both built and natural can cooperate to preserve and harness the rich nature while providing the opportunity to urban functions. Sri Lankan hill towns are livable and enjoyable due to the climate, rich natural vistas and landscape, water, sun shine, and breeze on elevate. Scenic Haputale town located around 1430m elevation is examined in this study. This town has several issues due to its undulated terrain. Accessibility is limited due to the level changes by the form of contour. The town has curvy linear growth of dense built form and urban growth along main road and junctions due to commercial activities. Absence of regulation or urban development guideline is another important limitation to drive better urban form. In the form of hill towns; the natural landscape plays the role of shaping the physical environment. Overall city shape, form, and assembly of the city elements and the